Peachy Find: Toddler Boy Books for Chistmas & Anytime Gifts

Okay, so it's down to the wire, and I'm hoping to avoid minute scrambling for Christmas presents. You know, wrapping Christmas gifts and doing Christmas cards always take WAY longer than I intend to. But, I always prioritize getting the gifts that need to be packaged in the mail first.

Now that those presents are on their way in the mail, I can get gifts for the little ones that can be wrapped and handed over in person. Especially if I know a kid loves books, I love giving books as gifts. It's something I know they can turn to time and time again. And it usually means the books will be used for quality time between mommy or daddy with their little one. And of course, it's golden when a parent tells me their little one just LOVES a certain book, that happens to be the one I gave!

Some of my girlfriends have asked me what're TJ's favorite books. Here are his favorites toddler boy books! And for those with toddler or baby girls, please post your favorite toddler or baby girl books. That would help me a lot for gifts with girls!

1. Thomas & Friends: Railway Rhymes by R. Schuyler Hooke
TJ's favorite since he was 2 years old. I don't know why, but he is CRAZY about this book, as us to read it again and again. We can't take reading it more than 3 times, so that's our limit! He loves the rhymes and has already memorized all the different names of the trains. It's a great book because it's perfect size for small hands, has a hard cover, and introduces a different train on each page. A really good value.

2. Tootle by Gertrude Crampton
TJ's favorite since 20 months old. This is classic old-school Little Golden Book. It's is the story of a little train that goes to train school. He loves the idea that trains have to go to school and learn how to stay on the tracks. And it helps TJ when he gets frustrated playing with his trains and they don't stay on the tracks. I tell him, "Remember, the train needs to learn to stay on the tracks. Help him."

3. Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo by Kevin Lewis
TJ's favorite since 9 months old. There are lots of fun characters and animals and toys
on each page, so there's lots of material to gab about with a baby and a toddler. The colors are bright and beautiful and the text also rhymes, which TJ really took to, even as a baby.

4. The Three Bears by Byron Barton
TJ's favorite since 20 months old. I borrowed several Three Bears story books from the library, but this was the one TJ requested the most. This was hands down my favorite version to read also. I liked it was short, and it also had pictures for each of the lines in the stories (A lot of books only had illustrations for some of the lines).

5. Fischer Price Cars, Trucks, Planes, Trains by Nancy Rindone
TJs favorite since 18months. He LOVES opening all the little flaps and there are tons of little stories on just one page (ones I make up). There are just so many things going, that TJ will even read the book on his own, pointing out all little things I showed him, and having fun opening up the flaps on his own. Even as we attempted potty training, he requested to read this one sitting on the throne!

6. Scuffy by Gertrude Crampton
TJ's favorite since 20 months. Probably because TJ has a toy boat during bathtime, TJ loves this story of a little tugboat who runs (well floats) away from home and the adventures he has going down the creek, that eventually leads to a big ocean. Lots of sights to see along the way, TJ asks this to be read over and over again. In the end, he always gets happy that the man with a polka dot tie finds him and he goes back home!
7. The Happy Man and His Dump Truck by Little Golden Books
TJ's favorite since 20 months. This is a simple story about a man & his dump truck picking up animals along the way. I like reading this to TJ, especially one days that I'm really tired, because it reminds me that simple things like driving even a dump truck (watching kids) is a worthwhile because of the people we love are in it.

8. This is the Stable by Cynthia Cotten
TJ's favorite Christmas story book. For those who celebrate Christmas and are looking for a good Christmas Story Book to read Christmas Eve. I have several and this one is the hands down most requested. I personally love this book because of the art and also the poetry. The story rhymes so I know TJ is drawn to that. Plus, the story is told simply and each illustration is just perfectly simple, beautiful and takes in natural themes. I'm gonna keep this for years to come.

9.Baby's First Bible by Reader's Digest
TJ's favorite Bible since 9 months old. For those who are of the Christian faith, I found this Bible to be the hands-down favorite. From a baby, all the way to being a toddler now, TJ loves this book. I think it's because the illustrations really are adorable, colorful. And the stories are written at his level. And everyone is happy and there are lots of interesting things on each page.

10. Lift-the-Flap Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
TJ's other favorite Bible since 18 months old. As you can tell, I love the lift the flap type books. So, I couldn't leave this list without finishing it with a Lift-the-Flap Bible. Really adorable stories that aren't repeats of the "Baby's First Bible" (#9 of the list). I especially like the story of the Lost Sheep, because TJ likes to look for the sheep and because I like the meaning behind it.

For a one-page view to order any of these books online (one & two day shipping available), just visit my Peachy Finds eStore

Happy, Peachy Reading!